What is an assisted living community or a personal care home?
Assisted living communities and personal care homes offer seniors many of the same services as independent living communities, but with the addition of assistance with daily needs and a range of services that promote quality of life and independence. Pennsylvania has nearly 1,200 assisted living communities and personal care homes that care for more than 80,000 people. As the commonwealth’s population rapidly increases, the demand for this level of care is growing.
Both assisted living communities and personal care homes can design programs to meet individual needs – for short-term stays when support services are required or for permanent residency.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Long-Term Living distinguishes between assisted living communities and personal care homes in these three ways:
- Concept - Assisted living communities permit residents to age in place, meaning that even as their health care needs increase, they will not have to relocate to another senior living home to receive that care.
- Construction - Assisted living communities must provide residents a private room with a lockable door, a private bathroom and small kitchen. Personal care homes are not required to offer these amenities.
- Level of Care - Assisted living communities must ensure that residents receive skilled nursing care if their needs surpass standard assisted living services.
What is an assisted living community?
Assisted living is for people who need help with daily care, but not the kind of around-the-clock care a nursing home provides. The level of care provided in assisted living can be higher than that in a personal care home, meaning that even as their health care needs increase, they will not have to relocate to another senior living home to receive that care.
What is a personal care home?
In Pennsylvania, a personal care home offers housing, meals and assistance with medications and personal care tasks for those who are unable to care for themselves but do not need 24/7 nursing home or medical care. Available services are based on the individual needs of the resident but can include assistance with daily living activities including bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom.
While some additional services to support activities of daily living may be available for residents in a personal care home, an individual with increased care needs may be asked to move from a personal care home to an assisted living community or nursing home in order to provide a higher, more appropriate level of care.
Paying for Long-Term Care
Many older adults and caregivers worry about the cost of medical care and other help they may need. These expenses can use up a significant part of monthly income, even for families who thought they had saved enough.
How people pay for care in an assisted living community or personal care home depends on their financial situation and the kinds of services they use. Some people believe that their current health or disability insurance will pay for their long-term care needs, but most of these insurance policies include limited, if any, long-term care benefits. Often, people must rely on a variety of payment sources, including personal funds and private financing options.
Personal funds (out-of-pocket expenses)
Nearly all assisted living and personal care residents pay for care using their own savings and assets.
Private insurance
For the most part, private medical insurance does not cover the cost of personal care or skilled nursing facility care except in specific circumstances.
Long-term care insurance can be purchased to provide some coverage for care in an assisted living community or personal care home. The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance offers more information about long-term care insurance in Pennsylvania, including a list of companies that are licensed to sell long-term care insurance.
Government programs
Older adults may be eligible for some government health care benefits. Caregivers can help by learning more about possible sources of financial help and assisting older adults in applying for aid as appropriate. Over time, the benefits and eligibility requirements of these programs can change, and some benefits differ from state to state.
Assisted living communities and personal care homes are currently not Medicaid-eligible providers in Pennsylvania.